Wow! It's been four weeks since I began this amazing adventure of blogging. I am having so much fun. Who knew that writing about my wacky life would turn into a cathartic exercise in self-expression? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for reading each day. I still have two more days left, but I am anticipating the end of this commitment and I don't think I can say thank you enough. I thought that today I would write about some of my favorite and not so favorite posts...maybe invite you into my head. Careful, my head is a crazy place. Enter at your own risk.
Oddly enough, two of my favorite posts were the least read. Isn't that how it is, though, in real life? Our seemingly inconsequential days are sometimes the most profound. I loved writing A Worn, Taped Up Little NIV. That morning I was overcome by the Word of God. It was a beautiful time thanking Jesus that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Even with all the confession and talk of weaknesses in this blog, I felt that I was the most transparent that day. The other favorite was Movie Quotes. I really liked that day too because it cracked me up. I love laughing at myself and that day I thought, "Does anyone else think like this?" I am so weird.
The most popular posts were A Call To Single Men, A Call To Single Women and Our Story. You guys love romance as much as I do. The themes of love, romance, and "What the heck am I supposed to do as a single?" really resonate with us all. We all want romance in our lives, God made us that way. If I had a secluded shack (ok, nice hotel room) on a beach somewhere I think I could write a whole book on this subject of singleness in Jesus and the idea of pursuing and being pursued. Louie wouldn't let me, but I would also love to open a matchmaking service. :)
I REALLY struggled with writing My Story. It took me all day. That was the day that flipped my schedule around. At first I was writing my posts early in the mornings (on this side of the world) but that post took me all day. I struggled for two reasons. First, I had just written Louie's faith story. His story is a beautiful picture of redemption. There is no one too far that Jesus can't reach them with His grace. My little story seemed anti-climatic after that. And second, I didn't want to open up to you about my deceitful past. Did you really want to hear another confession? But, it is a testimony of Jesus' transformational power. How could I not share it? There were many drafts to that story.
All of the last twenty-seven posts are like my children. How could I really choose a favorite? Each one is an honest expression of my life that day. They are about my walk with Jesus, Team Castro and the craziness of life in the islands. I hold them all as treasures.
Would you please give me your feedback? What did you like or not like? Be honest, but be kind ok? I genuinely want to know your opinions. I'm praying about what the next steps are going to be in this journey of faith. I'm so grateful for you all!
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Day Twenty-Seven: Homeschooling
A friend posted this to her facebook page today. It cracked me up because it is soooooo true.
When Sam saw this we had a very interesting conversaton:
Sam: (Very dramatically) That's why I like going to school! Number one, You get to stay home when your sick.
Me: Well, (I tried) You get to stay home all the time in homeschool.
Sam: Yeah and do ALL my work in bed while I'm sick! When I'm in school and I stay home sick, you let me watch tv and play video games.
Me: What else do you like about going to school? You said that was number one.
Sam: Number two, It's easy.
Me: You don't want school to be easy all the time. It would be boring.
Sam: Mom, do I even have to answer that?
Me: What else?
Sam: And number three, you get to buy lunch and have cookies.
Well, there's no competing with cookies.
I am a reluctant homeschooler. Reluctant because I'm insecure about it all. I am always doubting myself. Are they getting enough? Would they get more in school? Am I ruining my kids? How will they do in college? It's an ugly spiral.
I am a reluctant homeschooler. Reluctant because I'm insecure about it all. I am always doubting myself. Are they getting enough? Would they get more in school? Am I ruining my kids? How will they do in college? It's an ugly spiral.
Reluctant doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I actually do. I love English and History. So we can spend weeks on the Civil War learning all about the people involved, studying the maps and reenacting the battles. We'll read novel after novel about the Civil War and (my favorite) watch all the great Civil War movies. But I don't like Science so it is the hardest subject to teach. And if we run out of time for the day, it's almost always Science that gets put off until the next day.
If I love something we will study it completely, if I don't particularly like a subject, we tolerate it.
Pray for my kids.
On the other hand, Chloe just wrote a persuasive essay strongly supporting her love of homeschooling. Her three main points for liking homeschooling are:
1. You can stay home and wear pajamas to school.
2. You can get up early in the morning and do school before breakfast. If you do you will have lots of free time later.
3. In your own environment you might feel more comfortable and less stressed. (That's my shy girl.)
So as a mom I will do what all parents have to do. I will learn from the above (very different) opinions. Let Sam rest and relax when he is sick. Don't be a slave driver. And with Chloe, enjoy these years because the time is fast approaching when she will leave me for college (insert racking sobbs).
Love from the islands,
Twyla
If I love something we will study it completely, if I don't particularly like a subject, we tolerate it.
Pray for my kids.
On the other hand, Chloe just wrote a persuasive essay strongly supporting her love of homeschooling. Her three main points for liking homeschooling are:
1. You can stay home and wear pajamas to school.
2. You can get up early in the morning and do school before breakfast. If you do you will have lots of free time later.
3. In your own environment you might feel more comfortable and less stressed. (That's my shy girl.)
So as a mom I will do what all parents have to do. I will learn from the above (very different) opinions. Let Sam rest and relax when he is sick. Don't be a slave driver. And with Chloe, enjoy these years because the time is fast approaching when she will leave me for college (insert racking sobbs).
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Day Twenty-Six: My Story
I've given you stories about each of my kids. I told you Louie's story of faith and I even told you of our romance. But I have yet to tell you my story. The story of how I was found by Jesus. I don't know why I've waited until almost the end of my thirty day commitment. Maybe it's because I began these posts with so many confessions. I wanted a break from self-humiliation. :) Not that chasing Jesus is humiliating. But there is a lot of confession involved in following Him and my flesh (that is my old nature-2 Cor 5:17) fights against humbling myself.
That is one of the reasons I confess in the first place. I fight my pride with confession. Confession reminds me that there is nothing I can do to save myself. Confession reminds me that I need Him everyday. Apart from Him I would be a desperate, hopeless woman. In Him I am His child. In Him I have joy. Confession leads me to the hope that comes only from Him.
Another reason I have waited to tell you my story is because it's not as exciting as Louie's story. It is just as glorious because the endings are the same. We are both rescued by Jesus. But Louie's story fits better in Hollywood. :) My story is kind of boring. Ha! Hang in there. Jesus saves me. It's the best part.
I came to Jesus when I was seven years old. At seven years old I didn't have much to confess, but I knew I needed Jesus. I knew that I sinned. I was overcome by my need to be saved from this world. I knew there was another world...another kingdom and I wanted to belong to Jesus' kingdom. I was baptized. I loved Jesus so much and I learned much about Him growing up.
I began to live for myself in college. Living for yourself is such a dead-end life. I saw many friends destroy their lives during those years...or begin to destroy their lives. Some of them are still trying to put themselves back together after wrong choices in college. This is the time I also began the "boy crazy" years. There began to be some major character issues that needed to be cleaned up. Thank you Jesus, He is in the business of cleaning us up.
I've already told you the story of the boy crazy years, but I haven't told you about other things that Jesus kept bringing up in my life. After I moved to LA, Jesus convicted me of deceit. I kept reading verse after verse in Proverbs about lying (Prov 6:17, 12:19&22, 17:7, 21:6, 26:28). Jesus made it clear that I needed to stop all deceit in my life. Deceit had become so easy it was unnoticed. I would answer people by whatever answer would lead to the least conflict. Instead of answering truthfully, I would lie. For example, "You're not a religious person, are you?" I would answer, "No, of course not." That's the answer they wanted, so I would give it to them. Or I would lie by making up excuses for things I didn't want to do. For example, "I can't stay after school for that meeting, I have an appointment." That's lying. Another type of deceit I would regularly engage in would be exaggeration. I love telling stories and making people laugh. So if there was a way to make a story funnier I would exaggerate it.
Jesus began convicting me of these things. He lead me to 1 John 1:5-10:
I loved Jesus and walked with Jesus and I could not continue to act as though I did not sin. I must confess it. It was a startling realization. To get over this sin I must confess it to those I had sinned against...to those I had lied to. What? I don't want to do that, Jesus. I don't want people to know that I am a liar. Jesus answered, "You lie, Twyla, you are not a liar. Now confess it and get over it."
So, you guessed it. I began to confess my sins. I began to confess if I lied to people. It was so embarrassing! But it was also freeing. I would go right away to whomever I lied to and ask their forgiveness. It took almost an entire year to break out of the habit of lying and exaggerating.
People's reactions were interesting. Usually they were very gracious. A few times I received judgmental attitudes and looks, but most of the time people were gracious and kind. Occasionally I was asked about why I confessed and more than once people would confess right back to me that they struggled with the same thing.
This is why I am open about my weaknesses. I want to have fellowship with my Jesus. I want to walk in the light as He is in the light. I want to have fellowship with others that follow Him. When I hide my sin, I am in the darkness and I have no fellowship with Jesus or with others. As I continue on the Way in Jesus I have to confess now and again. And yes, it is difficult. But I have found that confessing leads to openness and trust. Those are the kinds of relationships I want in my life. That's what I want to teach my children.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
That is one of the reasons I confess in the first place. I fight my pride with confession. Confession reminds me that there is nothing I can do to save myself. Confession reminds me that I need Him everyday. Apart from Him I would be a desperate, hopeless woman. In Him I am His child. In Him I have joy. Confession leads me to the hope that comes only from Him.
Another reason I have waited to tell you my story is because it's not as exciting as Louie's story. It is just as glorious because the endings are the same. We are both rescued by Jesus. But Louie's story fits better in Hollywood. :) My story is kind of boring. Ha! Hang in there. Jesus saves me. It's the best part.
I came to Jesus when I was seven years old. At seven years old I didn't have much to confess, but I knew I needed Jesus. I knew that I sinned. I was overcome by my need to be saved from this world. I knew there was another world...another kingdom and I wanted to belong to Jesus' kingdom. I was baptized. I loved Jesus so much and I learned much about Him growing up.
I began to live for myself in college. Living for yourself is such a dead-end life. I saw many friends destroy their lives during those years...or begin to destroy their lives. Some of them are still trying to put themselves back together after wrong choices in college. This is the time I also began the "boy crazy" years. There began to be some major character issues that needed to be cleaned up. Thank you Jesus, He is in the business of cleaning us up.
I've already told you the story of the boy crazy years, but I haven't told you about other things that Jesus kept bringing up in my life. After I moved to LA, Jesus convicted me of deceit. I kept reading verse after verse in Proverbs about lying (Prov 6:17, 12:19&22, 17:7, 21:6, 26:28). Jesus made it clear that I needed to stop all deceit in my life. Deceit had become so easy it was unnoticed. I would answer people by whatever answer would lead to the least conflict. Instead of answering truthfully, I would lie. For example, "You're not a religious person, are you?" I would answer, "No, of course not." That's the answer they wanted, so I would give it to them. Or I would lie by making up excuses for things I didn't want to do. For example, "I can't stay after school for that meeting, I have an appointment." That's lying. Another type of deceit I would regularly engage in would be exaggeration. I love telling stories and making people laugh. So if there was a way to make a story funnier I would exaggerate it.
Jesus began convicting me of these things. He lead me to 1 John 1:5-10:
This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
So, you guessed it. I began to confess my sins. I began to confess if I lied to people. It was so embarrassing! But it was also freeing. I would go right away to whomever I lied to and ask their forgiveness. It took almost an entire year to break out of the habit of lying and exaggerating.
People's reactions were interesting. Usually they were very gracious. A few times I received judgmental attitudes and looks, but most of the time people were gracious and kind. Occasionally I was asked about why I confessed and more than once people would confess right back to me that they struggled with the same thing.
This is why I am open about my weaknesses. I want to have fellowship with my Jesus. I want to walk in the light as He is in the light. I want to have fellowship with others that follow Him. When I hide my sin, I am in the darkness and I have no fellowship with Jesus or with others. As I continue on the Way in Jesus I have to confess now and again. And yes, it is difficult. But I have found that confessing leads to openness and trust. Those are the kinds of relationships I want in my life. That's what I want to teach my children.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Day Twenty-Five: Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales || Spoken Word
A few days ago I posted the story of our romance. This is a great extension of that story. Jesus brings us together and only in Him can we stay together. Marriage is sustained in Him.
Only He can direct our lives. Only He can make us whole. Only He can help us lay down our selfishness for others. We need Him so desperately.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Friday, January 27, 2012
Day Twenty-Four: Chloe and Sam
Sometimes people ask me how I could take my children all the way around the world. How could I take them away from good schools and hospitals etc. etc. I hope these random pics of Chloe and Sam growing up here in the islands will answer that question. We love it here and I love the things my children are learning on this adventure.
Sam learned to climb a coconut tree when he was five years old. Of course this overprotective mamma won't let him climb higher than ten feet. :)
Every year my kiddos get to go to an amazing camp. Here we are climbing next to a volcano. Have any of you ever climbed a volcano? It's super exciting.
My kids have made friends with people from different cultures. They have learned to eat spicy foods and are learning a different language.
They are learning that most of the world's children do not have running water, enough food or even toys. They are learning to appreciate all the wonderful things we do have in the States.
Riding a motorcycle would be worth living overseas for both of them. They love it. :)
Here's Chloe helping with an English Club.
Good friends make it that much more fun.
You can never see enough sea turtles.
Exploring an awesome tree.
Canoeing in one of the biggest crater lakes in the world.
I'm grateful for the chance to chase Jesus to this place. And I am grateful that my children are growing up learning about Him and how He has a plan for their life. His plan is not something to be afraid of, it's something to be chased after with all that we are. He is to be enjoyed along the Way.
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Day Twenty-Three: Movie Quotes
It crossed my mind yesterday that I have used a lot of movie quotes over that last twenty-three days. By a lot I mean three...
*From day four:
Do you remember that part at the end of "Return of the King" where Sam is trying to encourage Frodo? That's how Louie is with me in regard to all my weaknesses but especially with my "weight weakness." Sam says, "Then let us be rid of it...once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you...but I can carry you!"
* From day twelve:
*From day four:
Do you remember that part at the end of "Return of the King" where Sam is trying to encourage Frodo? That's how Louie is with me in regard to all my weaknesses but especially with my "weight weakness." Sam says, "Then let us be rid of it...once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you...but I can carry you!"
* From day twelve:
Do you remember that scene in Captain America where Dr. Erskine says, "The serum amplifies everything that is inside. So good becomes great and bad becomes worse." Well, my "serum" amplified everything that was bad in me.
* From day twenty-one:
as Iris says in The Holiday, "You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life." :)
* From day twenty-one:
as Iris says in The Holiday, "You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life." :)
It seemed like more than three. But I guess that's because I think about movie quotes all the time. They help me narrate my life. I hear a voice over in my head that describes what is going on around me. Is that strange? Ha! It seems strange as I type this out.
I wonder why I do that? I mean, I love movies...LOVE movies. But why do the words stick with me the way they do? I regularly quote Braveheart with Louie. It's one of our favorite movies...if the coffee is a little strong in the morning a good boisterous, "That'll wake you up in the morning, boys!" jumps out of my mouth. Or if I'm leaving Chloe alone with some friends at the mall, in my mind I'm thinking, "You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you!" from The Last of the Mohicans. Yes, overprotective mom here. And then one of my favorites, if we are walking outside and the kids are complaining about a little exercise I'll start running and yell, "There's some blue sky. Let us chase it!" from Sense and Sensibility.
Yes, I'm a dork. Did I mention I am the quirky leading lady of my own life? Emphasis on quirky.
I wonder if the reason I think about movies is because movies echo a great need in my life. I have a need for my life to matter. I want it to be exciting, romantic and adventurous. But if movies echo a need in my life then what propels movies? I mean why are romances and adventures so popular? Why do we pay good money to watch other people risk, fall in love or rescue others?
In The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg writes, "Frederick Buechner once wrote that every age has produced fairy tales. Something inside us believes or wants to believe, that the world as we know it is not the whole story. We long for the reenchantment of reality...So we keep spinning and repeating stories that hold the promise of another world." He continues, " Fairy tales are not just stories about the transformation of the world around us. They are usually about the transformation of the central characters: frogs becoming princes, ugly ducklings becoming swans..."
I want to see transformation in my life. I want to be the risk-taker. I want to be the one that goes behind enemy lines and rescues the orphans (that was a Monday Night movie I saw when I was 12 years old and has always stuck with me). Why? Because all of us have been created to live by faith. Life in the Spirit is about taking risks and following Jesus. We watch movies many times to live vicariously through the main characters. Watching others take risks may meet a surface level need for our own faith deficiencies.
The amazing thing about Jesus is that we don't have to just watch others live by faith. We don't have to be spectators in our own lives. You are the hero of your own story. You are the leading man or leading lady of your own life. Like I said before, I imagine Jesus running from broken person to broken person and looking back to see if we will chase Him to meet their needs...to love them...to get messy and be involved.
Look around you. Where is Jesus? What's He calling you to do with/in your life? I guarantee it will be more exciting than any movie.
But I will continue to pilfer movie lines. Hollywood people are just better writers than I am. :)
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Yes, I'm a dork. Did I mention I am the quirky leading lady of my own life? Emphasis on quirky.
I wonder if the reason I think about movies is because movies echo a great need in my life. I have a need for my life to matter. I want it to be exciting, romantic and adventurous. But if movies echo a need in my life then what propels movies? I mean why are romances and adventures so popular? Why do we pay good money to watch other people risk, fall in love or rescue others?
In The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg writes, "Frederick Buechner once wrote that every age has produced fairy tales. Something inside us believes or wants to believe, that the world as we know it is not the whole story. We long for the reenchantment of reality...So we keep spinning and repeating stories that hold the promise of another world." He continues, " Fairy tales are not just stories about the transformation of the world around us. They are usually about the transformation of the central characters: frogs becoming princes, ugly ducklings becoming swans..."
I want to see transformation in my life. I want to be the risk-taker. I want to be the one that goes behind enemy lines and rescues the orphans (that was a Monday Night movie I saw when I was 12 years old and has always stuck with me). Why? Because all of us have been created to live by faith. Life in the Spirit is about taking risks and following Jesus. We watch movies many times to live vicariously through the main characters. Watching others take risks may meet a surface level need for our own faith deficiencies.
The amazing thing about Jesus is that we don't have to just watch others live by faith. We don't have to be spectators in our own lives. You are the hero of your own story. You are the leading man or leading lady of your own life. Like I said before, I imagine Jesus running from broken person to broken person and looking back to see if we will chase Him to meet their needs...to love them...to get messy and be involved.
Look around you. Where is Jesus? What's He calling you to do with/in your life? I guarantee it will be more exciting than any movie.
But I will continue to pilfer movie lines. Hollywood people are just better writers than I am. :)
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Day Twenty-Two: Our Story Part 2
**Here is the continuation of yesterday's story**
I quickly told my roommates my suspicions and told them that Louie was on his way over right then. We (all seven of us at this point) stopped and prayed that Jesus would give me the words to say to Louie if he did ask me to back out of the commitment. When Louie arrived they all waited in another room praying for me and our conversation...
I quickly told my roommates my suspicions and told them that Louie was on his way over right then. We (all seven of us at this point) stopped and prayed that Jesus would give me the words to say to Louie if he did ask me to back out of the commitment. When Louie arrived they all waited in another room praying for me and our conversation...
Louie was definitely nervous. He was sweating and his voice was shaky. We sat down and he began to ask me questions about our commitment. He asked me if any other men had asked me out during this year. I had to admit that yes there were a couple of guys hanging around in the fringes. (I am rather embarrassed to write that...it's not like what it sounds like. I was just so full of following Jesus and I think it was truly attractive to some guys.) Anyway...He then wiped his palms on his legs and said, "Twyla, would you go out with me..." Now, I must tell you that my heart dropped. I was disappointed in Louie and I prayed for wisdom.
But Louie wasn't finished, "...in seven months." Wait. What? Could you repeat that? "Twyla, would you go out with me...in seven months?" He shared with me that he had been praying and waiting to tell me about his feelings until after our commitment, but he had noticed that there were other guys waiting also. He wanted, if I was agreeable, to give the other guys the message to back off. He wanted them to know that I was spoken for.
Swoon! Are you kidding me?! Are you for real?! My heart had just been through the ringer. I had moved from disappointment to absolute head over heels in love. Of course I told him that I would date him in seven months and that yes I was agreeable to getting the message out to the other guys to back off. :)
Last night I asked Louie about this conversation again. I wanted to get the facts straight. He told me that he had been praying for his wife. And as he and I learned more and more about each other, he hoped Jesus was allowing him to become best friends with his future wife. He wanted to be married and have children and our commitment had allowed him to see the real me, not the "dating" me. And remember, he had not been discipled in the "wait and see" teaching of the single guys at church. He had been discipled in the "hard knocks" of real life and he was ready to get on with the life Jesus had for him. He was ready to step out in faith.
We decided that we would not go out alone together and we would immediately tell our friends about this new development. My roommates were still waiting and praying for us in the next room. When Louie left and I told them all about our conversation they were asking if Louie had any single brothers. :) Louie was being discipled by one of our closet friends. We decided to tell him and our pastor (my mentor). But soon our entire fellowship knew about "Louie and Twyla." One of my roommates said, "I want to NOT date someone. It looks like a lot of fun." :) It WAS a lot of fun.
One of my worries throughout this time was how young Louie was in Jesus. I had not thought of Louie initially as being "open" for dating after our commitment was over because of his newness in Jesus. I approached my mentor/pastor about it. I will never forget his answer. He shared with me that it's not how long someone has known Jesus that matters, it's how they follow Him, how they love His Word and how they obey Him. He said, "There are many, many men out there that have known Jesus a long time, but they are not passionate about Him or follow Him with everything they are. Louie is the type of man I would want you to marry. Do not marry a man who has known Jesus for a long time, but does not obey Him."
Of course, I was thrilled with that advice and it continues to be a theme in my life. I long for single women who love Jesus never to settle for a man that just "knows" Jesus. Wait for the man that passionately loves and follows Him. The man that pursues Jesus will pursue you. And if for some reason all the men around you are disobeying Jesus, it is much better to chase Jesus alone than to try and drag along someone else.
Ok, enough preaching...
Our first date was on September 17, 1994. It was pretty funny. It seemed like our entire fellowship knew we were going out alone for our official first date that day. Of course we were nervous, but it was perfect. We talked about all kinds of things we had not allowed ourselves to say in the past seven months. We knew we loved each other and actually began planning our wedding that day. :) It was a very easy transition from best friends to being in love. Looking back I wish we had married right away. When you find your life, you want it to begin at once. :) We married on December 15, 1995.
So what do you think? Pretty romantic, huh? As I've stated before we all have these types of stories. I'm just getting to write mine down. I am grateful to be able to write out these Team Castro tales. They are memories that we hold dear around here and until this month I had never thought about writing them down. It's actually quite fun. I don't want to forget what Jesus has done and most of all I don't want my children to forget. I want them to remember Jesus can redeem any story. He can make any story a romance because He is the great Lover. We've all had crazy beginnings and shaky midlife stories but if we belong to Him and passionately follow Him, He will give each and everyone of us a happy ending because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb 13:6).
Love from the islands,
Twyla
We decided that we would not go out alone together and we would immediately tell our friends about this new development. My roommates were still waiting and praying for us in the next room. When Louie left and I told them all about our conversation they were asking if Louie had any single brothers. :) Louie was being discipled by one of our closet friends. We decided to tell him and our pastor (my mentor). But soon our entire fellowship knew about "Louie and Twyla." One of my roommates said, "I want to NOT date someone. It looks like a lot of fun." :) It WAS a lot of fun.
One of my worries throughout this time was how young Louie was in Jesus. I had not thought of Louie initially as being "open" for dating after our commitment was over because of his newness in Jesus. I approached my mentor/pastor about it. I will never forget his answer. He shared with me that it's not how long someone has known Jesus that matters, it's how they follow Him, how they love His Word and how they obey Him. He said, "There are many, many men out there that have known Jesus a long time, but they are not passionate about Him or follow Him with everything they are. Louie is the type of man I would want you to marry. Do not marry a man who has known Jesus for a long time, but does not obey Him."
Of course, I was thrilled with that advice and it continues to be a theme in my life. I long for single women who love Jesus never to settle for a man that just "knows" Jesus. Wait for the man that passionately loves and follows Him. The man that pursues Jesus will pursue you. And if for some reason all the men around you are disobeying Jesus, it is much better to chase Jesus alone than to try and drag along someone else.
Ok, enough preaching...
Our first date was on September 17, 1994. It was pretty funny. It seemed like our entire fellowship knew we were going out alone for our official first date that day. Of course we were nervous, but it was perfect. We talked about all kinds of things we had not allowed ourselves to say in the past seven months. We knew we loved each other and actually began planning our wedding that day. :) It was a very easy transition from best friends to being in love. Looking back I wish we had married right away. When you find your life, you want it to begin at once. :) We married on December 15, 1995.
So what do you think? Pretty romantic, huh? As I've stated before we all have these types of stories. I'm just getting to write mine down. I am grateful to be able to write out these Team Castro tales. They are memories that we hold dear around here and until this month I had never thought about writing them down. It's actually quite fun. I don't want to forget what Jesus has done and most of all I don't want my children to forget. I want them to remember Jesus can redeem any story. He can make any story a romance because He is the great Lover. We've all had crazy beginnings and shaky midlife stories but if we belong to Him and passionately follow Him, He will give each and everyone of us a happy ending because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. (Heb 13:6).
Love from the islands,
Twyla
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)